Verlenging naturalisatietermijnen

Reactie

Vraag1

I would like to express my strong disagreement with the proposal to extend the naturalization period from five to ten years.

I have been living in the Netherlands for several years. I work, pay taxes, follow the law, and learn Dutch because I want to be part of this country. From the beginning, I understood that after five years I could apply for naturalization, and this gave me stability and motivation to integrate. If the rule changes to ten years, it feels unfair and discouraging. It creates anxiety and stress for people like me, who already invest so much in their lives here, and it makes it harder to feel truly at home. It also increases the level of insecurity: for example, if my passport is stolen abroad, I can return quickly with embassy help. But if my residence permit is stolen, it may take months before I can come back. Moreover, researches show that faster access to citizenship helps migrants integrate better into society, while delays only slow this down (Gathmann, 2023: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm? abstract_id=4298821). Extending the period will not improve integration; it will only push people away.

I truly hope this proposal will be withdrawn. By keeping the five-year path, the Netherlands will not only show trust in those who contribute, but also ensure that skilled migrants remain motivated to build their future here — helping the country continue to prosper economically and socially.